It’s time for Francis and the Vatican to get tough on Venezuela

Crux, 24 April 2017

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has unleashed government goons against the Church, entering parish churches to disrupt Masses. On Wednesday of Holy Week, Maduro’s men burst into the Chrism Mass of Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, shouting threats and physically assaulting the cardinal. It would therefore seem time for a denunciation from Pope Francis against the Maduro regime.

What happened to Venezuela? Its absence from the papal blessing on Easter Sunday indicates that the Holy See is not sure of how to proceed in an increasingly deteriorating situation.

A curious custom, at least decades old, has grown up around the Urbi et Orbi(to the City and to the World) blessing at Christmas and Easter. Before giving the solemn blessing from the central balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square, the pope delivers a short address.